PLANS to improve the facilities at Skipton Trinity St Andrew’s Church on Westmoreland Street have been given the go-ahead by North Yorkshire Council.

The plans will see the Duckett Street porch replaced with a new single-storey extension that will include a small meeting room and more storage space.

The internal layout of the existing building will also be altered to provide more toilets and a larger kitchen.

The church says the improvements will allow them to increase the number of activities offered, which already includes children’s groups, counselling space, Rainbow, Brownies and guide groups and music groups.

The new room will also act as a quiet space when the main hall is in use for those who prefer a less noisy/ busy environment.

A design and access statement attached to the application said: “These changes will provide better facilities for all those who use the building. Catering and hospitality are important parts of the church’s outreach, and this will be enhanced by the proposed alterations.”

In 2023, St Andrew’s Methodist and United Reformed church joined with Trinity Methodist Church and became Trinity St Andrews Methodist and United Reformed Church based at Westmorland Street Skipton.

They are now one church operating on two sites under the name Trinity St Andrew’s.

Since October 2023 the one church has been worshipping together at Westmoreland Street every week with very occasional services held at Newmarket Street.

The history of the church dates back to 1879 when a Sunday school organised by the Water Street Methodist Church began in the Temperance Hall in Sackville Street (now the Plaza cinema) to serve one of the poorer areas of Skipton. This led to the building of Trinity Church, which was opened in 1889.